Digital cameras, especially compact models, often come with only the rear LCD screen to view and compose your photo. While it's nice that they show what the actual photo will look like, it's often hard to see the detail you want...whether due to bright sun, or just the small size of the screen. If you get close enough to really see the small detail, it's often too close for the eyes to focus. Even reading glasses or bifocals won't let you get close enough to really see what you're shooting.

Is there a Solution?In early 2009, I bought a Panasonic Lumix LX3, a fantastic camera, with one exception: there is no viewfinder, just an LCD screen. An expensive add-on optical finder is available, which adds considerably to the camera’s size, and not much to its usability. Various hoods, fixed or folding, are available to shade the LCD screen, which may help a little, but not enough to replace having a real viewfinder. Lens-and-hood combinations are available, but they add considerably to the size, and who wants their small pocket camera to be the size of an SLR?

Fewer and fewer models even include a small optical finder to use in bright sun. So you’re stuck trying to focus your eyes on a small LCD screen with the sun glaring, trying to make out enough detail to get your photo. More often than not, it’s just “point and hope” you got what you wanted. For casual photos, that may be OK, but wouldn't you like to be able to catch that smile just right, get that bird when it's looking at you, or see if something really is in focus?

After several months of experimenting with different designs to make my LCD-only camera really usable, I have ended up with a device which makes it a pleasure to use, under nearly all conditions. It also will work with other compact digitals. What is it?